https://github.com/bbc-data-unit/libraries
Data used in the story 'Libraries lose a quarter of staff as hundreds close'
https://github.com/bbc-data-unit/libraries
councils foi libraries python scraping
Last synced: about 1 year ago
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Data used in the story 'Libraries lose a quarter of staff as hundreds close'
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/bbc-data-unit/libraries
- Owner: BBC-Data-Unit
- Created: 2016-03-29T09:53:06.000Z (about 10 years ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2019-05-29T08:53:53.000Z (almost 7 years ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-03-25T11:38:31.981Z (about 1 year ago)
- Topics: councils, foi, libraries, python, scraping
- Language: Python
- Homepage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35707956
- Size: 1.49 MB
- Stars: 6
- Watchers: 6
- Forks: 4
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
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README
# Library cuts: closures, volunteer numbers and staff cuts
This repository contains data used in the story 'Libraries lose a quarter of staff as hundreds close', collected through [Freedom of Information requests](https://github.com/BBC-Data-Unit/libraries/blob/master/FOI_request.md) to library authorities across the UK. This data was complemented by analysis of [CIPFA reports](http://www.cipfa.org/services/statistics/comparative-profiles/public-libraries).
The story was reported across the BBC, including the following articles online:
* [Libraries lose a quarter of staff as hundreds close](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35707956)
* [Libraries: The decline of a profession?](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35724957)
* [Book borrowing figures show library habits are changing](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35788332)
The reporting team was Peter Sherlock, Daniel Wainwright, Paul Bradshaw and Antia Geada.
## Coverage
You can [listen to Radio 4 Today's coverage here (at 0730)](http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b074x312), Nicky Campbell and Eleanor Oldroyd [on 5 Live Breakfast](http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b074z5m5) and **Jeremy Vine** [on Radio 2 here (at 1230)](http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b074lfpf). Lauren Smith has [linked to a range of local radio coverage on her blog](https://laurensmith.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/radio-marathon/).
[#libraries trended on Twitter](https://twitter.com/WeNeedLibraries/status/714758162704953347) throughout the morning. **BBC Breakfast** [created this short video for social media showing some key figures](https://twitter.com/BBCBreakfast/status/714703963078176768). You can [join in the discussion on their Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/bbcbreakfast/videos/vb.127439507270196/1294853730528762/?type=2&theater)
[BBC Breakfast created this short video for social media showing some key figures](https://twitter.com/BBCBreakfast/status/714703963078176768) and [#libraries trended on Twitter throughout the morning](https://twitter.com/WeNeedLibraries/status/714758162704953347).
By midday Chris Love had used our data to [create a Tableau visualisation of volunteer numbers at each library](https://public.tableau.com/views/LibraryCuts/Cuts?:embed=y&:display_count=yes&:showTabs=y)
## Other information
The House of Commons Library quoted the BBC research in its [briefing paper on public libraries on April 15, 2016](http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/SN05875). This briefing, which we have [uploaded to this repository](https://github.com/BBC-Data-Unit/libraries/blob/master/HouseOfCommons%20Libraries%20Briefing%20SN05875.pdf), also includes data going back to 2005 and including a breakdown of different types of employees. Professional posts, for example, declined at a much faster rate (46% of positions going between 2010 and 2015) than other posts (25% over the same period).
## Data
* [FOI response data on closures, volunteers and staff](https://github.com/BBC-Data-Unit/libraries/blob/master/library_closures_BBC.csv)
* [Percentage of libraries with wifi access in each authority (England only)](https://github.com/BBC-Data-Unit/libraries/blob/master/LibrariesWithWiFiPoints.csv)
* [Book issues in 2012 and 2014 for authorities in England](https://github.com/BBC-Data-Unit/libraries/blob/master/LibrariesBookBorrowing.csv)